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Yesterday, U.S. District Judge Lowell Reed Jr, struck down the 1998 Child Online Protection Act(COPA) a law to protect children from websites that offered sexually explicit materials that could be accessed by minors,  on the grounds it is "impermissibly vague and overbroad" and  issued a permanent injunction against the law's enforcement.  Reed said despite compelling interest by Congress in protecting children from such material, COPA violates a person's First and Fifth Amendment rights.

This was the 2nd attempt in protecting children from online pornography. The U.S. Supreme Court upheld in 2004 a temporary injunction blocking the law from taking effect;and the decision by Reed yesterday.

COPA provided for criminal and civil penalties against Web sites that failed to take adequate measures to prevent minors from accessing said sites.

Donna Rice Hughes, President of Enough is Enough, said, in part " this is another victory for pornographers and a crushing defeat for children and parents. "

Those of us involved in Internet Safety education and awareness know that children's exposure to online pornography is increasing.